CAMPAIGNERS and residents are celebrating the news that plans to move a controversial veterinary complex to a Hampshire village have been thrown out.

As reported in yesterday's Daily Echo, Wickham Laboratories were hoping to overturn the decision of Winchester Council refusing them permission to move from Wickham to Lower Upham.

A two-day appeal was held in front of a government planning inspector in a bid to quash the refusal.

But inspector John Head ruled in favour of the council and locals who campaigned against the move to the village on the grounds that it would not suit a rural location.

In his report Mr Head said the development at Sciviers Lane would be out of character with the village.

He said: "The proposed development is not one for which a rural location is essential and the site is not identified in the development plan for employment use.

"It is an attractive rural setting that should be safeguarded for its own sake from the harmful effects of development."

The news was greeted with jubiliation by villagers including Chrissy Hutchings, a resident of Sciviers Lane.

She said: "That is absolutely wonderful news. It is a big relief to hear that the inspector agreed with us that this sort of development belongs on an industrial site, not in a village like Lower Upham."

Animal rights activists also welcomed the news. The local animal aid group regularly stage protests outside the animal testing laboratories, the most recent being last weekend.

Fareham and Gosport Animal Aid member Helen Nelson said: "I am absolutely delighted with the news. I think the residents conducted an extremely good protest against the plans and obviously said all the right things to the inspector.

"Quite aside from our own concerns about the work that goes on at the laboratories we were in full agreement that environmentally these proposals were totally unsuitable."

Wickham Laboratories refused to comment on the failed appeal.